Using angiogenesis in chronic wound care with becaplermin and oxidized regenerated cellulose/collagen.

For most of the last century, chronic wound care was a practice of passive techniques, designed to prevent the progression of the wound. In the last decade, however, advanced techniques have focused on improving the wound at the molecular level to accelerate wound healing. Successful modalities include tissue-engineered products, hyperbaric oxygen, negative pressure therapy, electrical stimulation, and recombinant growth factors. This shift in the treatment of wound care saw the development of a recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor, becaplermin, which stimulates granulation and increases the incidence of complete wound closure. Another product is oxidized regenerated cellulose/collagen, which protects growth factors and granulation tissue by inhibiting wound proteases. Used together, an optimal environment for wound healing can be created.